Deirdre Hunter
Lecturer in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Degrees
University of Connecticut, Storrs-Mansfield, M.S.W.College of the Holy Cross, B.A.
Expertise
My expertise lies in the intersections of feminist, social science and public health theory and current practice in the areas of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse, animal abuse, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This includes expertise supervising undergraduate and graduate students pursuing relevant internship work.Areas of expertise include:
Intimate Partner Violence
Sexual Assault
Child Abuse
Animal Abuse
Issues for LGBTQ survivors and perpetrators
Batterer’s Treatment
Trauma Theory
Feminism
Intersectionality
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
History of relevant social and public policy, legislation and service systems in Mass. and the U.S.
Current issues in the field
Local private non profit and public organizations working with survivors and perpetrators
Profile
Since interning as an undergraduate for a Worcester Mass. shelter and counseling program for survivors of domestic violence, Deirdre Hunter has been involved in numerous organized efforts to prevent and respond to violence in our relationships, families and communities. She spent seven years working full-time for grass roots sexual assault and domestic violence organizations and over twenty years as a volunteer in counseling, advocacy and board roles. Since 1996 she has turned her interests toward guiding undergraduate students interested in this work and has refined her contacts with local organizations willing to sponsor interns interested in prevention, direct service, advocacy and policy.In addition to her work at Brandeis, Ms. Hunter is Senior Vice President at JRI Developing Abilities, whose mission is to open the doors of opportunity to those who face barriers due to intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ms. Hunter’s division provides a range of day and residential supports for about 400 people in Mass. Ms. Hunter has a Master's degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Courses Taught
| WGS | 89a | When Violence Hits Home: Internship in Domestic Violence |
Awards and Honors
Department of Mental Retardation Award of Excellence "for promoting new opportunities and empowering people with developmental disabilities (1999)
Justice Resource Institute Achievement Award (1999)